Paving the way for food trucks

The Village of Grafton will likely approve a $10,000 asphalt paving project for the former Clark gas station in the village — work that will improve the empty lot for what may one day become a food truck site.

The Grafton Finance Committee on March 3 recommended the Village Board approve an asphalt repayment project not to exceed $10,000 for the former gas station at 1020 Washington St.

The project would use a portion of the $450,000 the village borrowed through the Revolving Loan Fund, of which $35,000 was allocated for economic development purposes.

Ozaukee County provided the village a $8,840 quote for the paving. The final cost will be based on the amount of asphalt used.

The former gas station closed in 2016 because its underground storage tanks permit expired. The property fell into disrepair and the village took possession of the property in 2020

The fuel tanks were eventually removed but the construction left piles of concrete and crushed gravel on the site.

The village originally planned to work with a property owner north of the gas station property to combine the parcels and create a mixed use redevelopment project but the property owner has indicated to village staff members that they are not ready to move forward with the proposal, according to village documents.

Village Administrator Jesse Thyes said the village was recently approached by a food truck vendor about using the former gas station as a site for their truck.

Thyes said village staff members were inspired by the inquiry and decided to bring the proposal for a food truck area to the board.

Under the proposal, the site would be paved, a seating area established, two spaces for food trucks would be setup, bike racks would be installed and parking would be made available. Electrical service would also be installed so food trucks would not need to rely on noisy generators.

The village would then lease the spaces to food trucks.

Community Development Director Jessica Wolff said the village has a food truck operating application which involves a driver’s license and background check. She added that because the trucks would operate on village property rather than on private property, monthly fees may be more than $25.

Thyes said additional consideration and planning is needed before the food truck site is brought to fruition and that the first step of the project is to pave the area.

“This would clean that up and set forth a nice site for this project proposal as we look to move forward,” he said. “Step one is to get it to a point where we could use it.”

 Wolff said the village staff would have liked to present complete plans for the food truck site all at once but that immediate action on the paving is needed to be placed on Ozaukee County’s schedule of projects for the upcoming construction season.

Wolff said the next step in the food truck site plan would be to consider installing electricity services, a project the village was quoted about $6,000 for.

Even if the food truck proposal is not supported by the Village Board, repaving the site would greatly improve the appearance of the area, Thyes said.

“Even if this food truck concept were not to move forward, at least the space would be nice and clean and much better looking than it is now,” Thyes said.

Wolff said the village would still move forward with a redevelopment project involving the lot north of the station and the food truck site would be an interim use.